decision time

heres my delima I have approx XXX dollars to spend on a MD so the decision is buy a new MD with warrenty like a M6 or simular or top of the line MD w/o a warrenty that was used by somebody else I do think for a few extra dollars i can get a top of the line with a transfurable warrenty but it will put me in the red

used comes with usually a few etra goodies but -----------let the buyer beware
new (whites) has a 100 gift goodie

sheeesh I need help before I'll need professional help (if ya follow me)

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my thoughts, for what its worth, on buying electronics, is that i would rather buy new and get something i know is factory tested with a warranty than to buy used and toss the dice. thats just me though.

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I would buy used if it looked like it hasn't been abused, check the bottom of the coil, cracks, excessive scratches, check all the bells/whistles and give it a good test drive. Money is money, if you can save a buck...go for it!

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Bill-I got both of my detectors used.I bought the DFX off of ebay at the beginning of the summer.I looked real good a the pics-to see if it had been taken care of-asked the seller lots of questions.I paid less than what a new detector would of cost and got coil cover,two pinpointers,headphones,soft carry case and a hard carry case-plus the DFX-with the manuals.I know it's a roll of the dice sometimes but I try to do my homework on things selling on ebay.I only use sellers that take paypal-no personal checks or money orders and I look at their feedback to see if it is positive.Hope I helped you a little-take care~DM

Tomorrow is the most important thing in life.Comes into us at midnight very clean.It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands.It hopes we've learnt something from yesterday.

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I bought my Whites Silver Eagle on Ebay from a dealer in California, Was great cuz I was able to ask him some questions before I won the bid! I was not dissapointed and I saved some money in the process! Love my detector even tho it doesn't have all the bells the DFX has its still top of the line!

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I also had good luck buying used, but I used craigslist.org when I got my detector. Don't know if craigslist is big in your area, but it is huge around Sand Fransicko, Kalifornia. Met the owner and tested in in a grassy area next to Home Depot. Got a XLT for under $400 with about 10 hrs on it. Got some other used stuff on ebay and did what is suggested above - no problems. If you are willing to wait and shop, there are some good deals out there - good luck.

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People are bidding too the extreme, to get their XMas gift for their loved one.

Also, some will get new ones and want to sell their used (and hopefully gently used) ones.

There will be bargains to be had after XMas and before spring (fewer people looking or getting into it in winter)

I bought mine used, but the seller said "only used a couple of times" and I believed him and sure nuff, when it arrived it was like bran new in the box!

Mind you it was a cheap one for me to start out with (but I'm loving it!)

This is all just my wee 2 cents worth!

Good points! With winter close at hand, you might possibly wait just a hair longer. There might even be a possibility of finding a dealer with some good deals on floor models- never or just barely used in the field but still under full warranty, they sometimes let them go at a fair discount.

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Lots of good advice. I too recommend waiting until next year for after X-mas/winter bargains. Also as you live in New Jersey- well your detecting days are over for this year. Also some new models may be introduced before Spring. Who know what new "Wonder" detector may be introduced? Odds are an EBay purchase will be OK as most sales end up with both parties satisfied. Outright scams on EBay usually involve high end Minelab PIs. Neverless I only buy used detectors from dealers. Slightly higher but if I have problems with it I know the dealer will take care of it. You may not know you have a problem until long after the sale. In the past some folks have "tweaked" their detectors and the poorly performing result was dumped on E-Bay. Weeks or months later the new buyer finally figures out the unit is no working up to par. The culprit may not be the last seller. So I have a conservative approach which means that I miss out on some great bargains on EBay.

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I still kinda like the idea of being able to send in a 5 or 6 year old unit that is dead and it still be under a full lifetime warranty. If it can't be fixed its replaced with a brand new one.

I do like, and I do buy off of EBay. I picked up a nice 3 MM Oceanic Vantage Farmer John wetsuit including a longsleeve shortie jacket for $45 shipping included. There was not one single snag any where on it, looks like it just came from the store. There is no doubt that there are great buys on EBay.

I had 1 bad buy, lost $10 on a DVD that never arrived and dealer would never respond, that is out of total of 85 buys by me.